This exclusive 5-CD collection brings together every Number One in the US record charts of the 1950s as published in Billboard. It uses the “Best Sellers in Stores” chart as well as the Top 100 and Hot 100 when they were launched. The 124 tracks chart the course of a momentous decade in popular music with the familiar domain of the traditional artists of dance bands, variety, radio and the movies being overtaken by the rock ‘n’ roll phenomenon, as mass media gave the baby boom generation a voice while the world emerged from post-war austerity. It’s an extraordinary, fascinating and hugely entertaining kaleidoscope of popular music.
For British and European audiences, it highlights both the influence the US charts had over what happened in the UK and also some of the differences between the markets, offering not only insight into the eclectic melting-pot of musical genres in the USA, but also some collectable tracks that never saw the light of day in Britain. Needless to say, it features some of the biggest names and landmark recordings of the post-war era, and will be a fantastic souvenir to remind those of a certain age of their wider musical roots.
Disc 1
1 Rudolph The RedNosed Reindeer Gene Autry
2 I Can Dream, Can't I? The Andrews Sisters
3 Rag Mop The Ames Brothers
4 Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy Red Foley
5 Music! Music! Music! Teresa Brewer
6 If I Knew You Were Comin' (I'd've Baked A Cake) Eileen Barton
7 Theme From 'The Third Man' Anton Karas
8 Mona Lisa Nat King Cole
9 Goodnight, Irene Gordon Jenkins and The Weavers
10 Harbour Lights Sammy Kaye
11 The Thing Phil Harris
12 The Tennessee Waltz Patti Page
13 If Perry Como
14 Be My Love Mario Lanza
15 How High The Moon Les Paul & Mary Ford
16 Too Young Nat King Cole
17 Come OnA My House Rosemary Clooney
18 Because Of You Tony Bennett
19 Cold Cold Heart Tony Bennett
20 (It's No) Sin Eddy Howard
21 Cry Johnnie Ray and The Four Lads
22 Wheel Of Fortune Kay Starr
23 Blue Tango Leroy Anderson
24 Here In My Heart Al Martino
25 Delicado Percy Faith
Disc 2
1 Auf Wiederseh'n Sweetheart Vera Lynn
2 You Belong to Me Jo Stafford
3 I Went to Your Wedding Patti Page
4 It's in the Book (Parts 1 & 2) Johnny Standley
5 Why Don't You Believe Me? Joni James
6 I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus Jimmy Boyd
7 Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes Perry Como
8 Till I Waltz Again with You Teresa Brewer
9 The Doggie in the Window Patti Page
10 The Song from Moulin Rouge (Where Is Your Heart) Percy Faith
11 I'm Walking Behind You Eddie Fisher
12 Vaya con Dios (May God Be with You) Les Paul and Mary Ford
13 St. George and the Dragonet Stan Freberg
14 Rags to Riches Tony Bennett
15 Oh! My PaPa (O Mein Papa) Eddie Fisher
16 Secret Love Doris Day
17 Make Love to Me Jo Stafford
18 Wanted Perry Como
19 Little Things Mean a Lot Kitty Kallen
20 ShBoom The CrewCuts
21 Hey There Rosemary Clooney
22 This Ole House Rosemary Clooney
23 I Need You Now Eddie Fisher
24 Mr. Sandman The Chordettes
Disc 3
1 Let Me Go, Lover Joan Weber
2 Hearts of Stone Fontane Sisters
3 Sincerely McGuire Sisters
4 The Ballad of Davy Crockett Bill Hayes
5 Cherry Pink (and Apple Blossom White) Pérez Prado
6 Rock Around the Clock Bill Haley & His Comets
7 The Yellow Rose of Texas Mitch Miller
8 Love Is a Many Splendoured Thing Four Aces
9 Autumn Leaves Roger Williams
10 Sixteen Tons Tennessee Ernie Ford
11 Memories Are Made of This Dean Martin
12 Rock and Roll Waltz Kay Starr
13 The Great Pretender The Platters
14 Lisbon Antigua Nelson Riddle
15 The Poor People of Paris Les Baxter
16 Heartbreak Hotel Elvis Presley
17 The Wayward Wind Gogi Grant
18 I Want You, I Need You, I Love You Elvis Presley
19 My Prayer The Platters
20 I Almost Lost My Mind Pat Boone
21 Don't Be Cruel Elvis Presley
22 Green Door Jim Lowe
23 Love Me Tender Elvis Presley
24 Singing the Blues Guy Mitchell
25 Too Much Elvis Presley
Disc 4
1 Don't Forbid Me Pat Boone
2 Young Love Tab Hunter
3 Butterfly Andy Williams
4 Party Doll Buddy Knox With The Rhythm Orchids
5 Round And Round Perry Como
6 All Shook Up Elvis Presley
7 Love Letters in the Sand Pat Boone
8 Teddy Bear Elvis Presley
9 Tammy Debbie Reynolds
10 Diana Paul Anka
11 That'll Be The Day The Crickets
12 Honeycomb Jimmie Rodgers
13 Wake Up Little Susie Everly Brothers
14 Jailhouse Rock Elvis Presley
15 You Send Me Sam Cooke
16 April Love Pat Boone
17 At the Hop Danny & the Juniors
18 Don't Elvis Presley
19 Get a Job The Silhouettes
20 Tequila The Champs
21 Twilight Time The Platters
22 Witch Doctor David Seville
23 All I Have To Do Is Dream Everly Brothers
24 The Purple People Eater Sheb Wooley
25 Hard Headed Woman Elvis Presley
Disc 5
1 Yakety Yak The Coasters
2 Patricia Pérez Prado
3 Poor Little Fool Ricky Nelson
4 Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu (Volare) Domenico Modugno
5 Little Star The Elegants
6 It's All in the Game Tommy Edwards
7 It's Only Make Believe Conway Twitty
8 Tom Dooley The Kingston Trio
9 To Know Him Is to Love Him The Teddy Bears
10 The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late) The Chipmunks with David Seville
11 Smoke Gets in Your Eyes The Platters
12 Stagger Lee Lloyd Price
13 Venus Frankie Avalon
14 Come Softly to Me The Fleetwoods
15 The Happy Organ Dave "Baby" Cortez
16 Kansas City Wilbert Harrison
17 The Battle of New Orleans Johnny Horton
18 Lonely Boy Paul Anka
19 A Big Hunk o' Love Elvis Presley
20 The Three Bells The Browns
21 Sleep Walk Santo & Johnny
22 Mack the Knife Bobby Darin
23 Mr. Blue The Fleetwoods
24 Heartaches by the Number Guy Mitchell
25 Why Frankie Avalon
21 A Penny A Kiss, A Penny A Hug Andrews Sisters
22 Sparrow In The Tree Top Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters
23 Too Young Patty Andrews
24 I'm In Love Again Andrews Sisters
25 Suddenly There's A Valley Patty Andrews
